January 3 2016 What Happens When You Have Faith

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE FAITH

Daring Faith: Key To Miracles - Part 1

Romans 1:17 “The Gospel shows us how God makes people right with himself—that it begins and ends with FAITH. The Scripture says those who are right with God will live by trusting in Him.”

Memory Verse: Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

FAITH IS seeing from God's point of view. 

Hebrews 11:1 (NLT) “What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen and to be certain of things we do not yet see.”

Ephesians 1:18 “I pray that the eyes of your heart will be flooded with light so that you can see the wonderful future God has promised to those he called . . .” 

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE SEE

(Numbers 13-14 - Spying out the Promised Land)

WITH EYES OF FEAR?

1. WE EXAGGERATE our difficulties

Numbers 13:27b “It’s a magnificent land BUT the people living there are powerful, and their cities are fortified and large! What’s more, we saw Anakim giants there!” -28

Numbers 13:31-32 “. . . other spies said, “They’d crush us!” So the majority report of the spies was negative.”

2. WE UNDERESTIMATE our own abilities

“We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.” Numbers 13:33

3. WE get discouraged

“Then all the people began weeping aloud, and they carried on all night!” Numbers 14:1

4. WE START TO to gripe about our life

Numbers 14:2 “All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron . . . ‘We wish we had died in Egypt!’ they wailed, ‘Or even here in the wilderness!’”

5. WE EVENTUALLY give up and we blame God.

Numbers 14:3 “Why is the Lord bringing us to this land to be killed with swords . . . We’d be better off going back to Egypt!”

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE SEE WITH EYES OF FAITH?

1. FAITH shrinks my problem

Genesis 18:14a “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”

Luke 1:37 “For nothing is impossible with God!”

2. FAITH opens the door for a miracle

Mark 11:22-24 Jesus said, “Have faith in God! If you have faith in God and you don’t doubt, you could tell this mountain to get up and jump into the sea, and it would. Whatever you ask for in prayer will be yours, IF you only have the faith.”

3. FAITH moves God to act on my Behalf

Matthew 9:29 Jesus said, “According to your faith it will be done to you.” 

4. FAITH unlocks all the promises of God

2 Corinthians 1:20a “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are all ‘Yes’ in Christ!”

5. FAITH turns God-given dreams into reality

Ephesians 3:20 (LB) “Glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us, is able to do FAR

MORE than we would ever DARE TO ASK or even DREAM of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes!” 

6. FAITH GIVES ME  power to hold on in tough times. 

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NLT) “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we’re not crushed and broken. We’re perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit. We’re attacked but God never abandons us.

We get knocked down, but we get up and keep going!”

John 3:16 (CEV) “God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life.” 

How To Grow In Your Faith during the DARING FAITH SERIES

1. Listen to all 10 Weekend Messages of the campaign.

2. Carry the weekly Bible verse with you.

3. Set 3 faith goals for growing, giving, and going.

June 1 2014 Building Confidence In God's Presence

Building Confidence In God's Presence

Jeremiah 23:23 – I am a God who is everywhere and not in one place. Do you not know that I am everywhere in heaven and on earth?

God’s Omnipresence God is everywhere.
It does not mean that God is everything.

Acts 17:28 – He is not far from us, for in Him we live and move and have our being.

Fact: God is always with me. I just need to recognize it.

How God’s Presence Brings Confidence To My Life

1. When I am lonely God’s presence is my companion.

Psalm 25:16 – Turn to me Lord and be merciful, because I am lonely.

Hebrews 13:5 – God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you!”

John 14:5 – I call you friends.

Psalm 16:11 – (David) your presence fills me with joy.

Confidence Builder: God’s presence cheers me up.

2. When I am worried, God is my foundation.

Isaiah 43:2-3 – When you go through deep waters and great troubles, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you won’t drown! When you walk through the fires of oppression, you won’t be burned up.

Psalm 16:8-9 – I am always aware of the Lord’s presence. He is near, and nothing can shake me. I’m so thankful and glad, and I feel completely secure.

Confidence Builder: God’s presence calms me down.

Psalm 23:4 – Even though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.

3. When I am tempted, God is my Counselor.

2 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful, He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Confidence Builder: God’s presence helps us maintain control.

Job 13:27 – You (God) keep a close watch on all my paths.

4. When I am discouraged, God is my comforter.

Psalm 34:18 – The Lord is near to those who are discouraged. He saves those who have lost hope.

(The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.)

Psalm 116:8-11 – The Lord stopped my tears and kept me from defeat. So I walk in the presence of the Lord. I kept on believing, even when I said, I’m completely crushed and even when I was afraid and said, no one can be trusted.

Confidence Builder: God’s presence sees me through.

How to Practice God’s Presence:

Revelation 3:20 Invite Jesus into your life.

Psalm 46:10 Be quiet.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Talk to God about everything.

Psalm 100:4 Develop the habit of praise.

July 28 2013 Trusting God When You Feel Alone

TRUSTING GOD WHEN YOU FEEL ALONE

Thoughts on Discouragement

1. Elijah was totally exhausted.
I Kings 18 - Meanwhile the sky grew black with clouds and the winds rose, a heavy rain came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel.  The power of the Lord came upon Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.

2. Elijah was naïve.
I Kings 19:1-3 - Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.  So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, may the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like one of them.

3.  It can lead to isolation.
I Kings 19:4 - Elijah went a day’s journey into the desert.  He came to a broom tree, sat down under it, and prayed that he might die.

Loneliness = inner emptiness.
A preoccupation with poor me.
Aloneness = is inner fulfillment.
Now that I’m alone with Jesus, I can recover, repair and regroup.

4. It hurts our self image.
Verse 4 - I have had enough, Lord, he said, take my life.  I am no better than my ancestors.

We cannot consistently live in a manner that is inconsistent with the way we see ourselves.

5.  Causes us to run from responsibility.
Verse 9 - There he went into a cave and spent the night and the Word of the Lord came to him.  “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

6. Causes us to blame others for our circumstances.
Verse 10 - I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty, but now the Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword.  I am the only one left.

7.  Makes our future look hopeless.

How did God deal with Elijah’s discouragement?

1.  Gave him rest and food.
Verses 5-8

2.  Encouraged him.
Verses 9-10

Areas I can Change:

Areas I can get changed:

Areas that are not going to be changed:

3.  Renewed relationship with God.
Verses 11-13

4.  Told him to get back to work.
Verse 15 - Go back the way you came.  Anoint the King and Elisha as the prophet to come after you.

5.  Gave him someone to minister to him.
Verse 21 - Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.

April 29 2012 Bringing Out The Best In Your Kids

Bringing Out The Best In Your Kids

Matthew 5:48 - Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect.

1. I must understand my children.

Psalm 103:13 - As a Father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For he knows how we are formed.

Proverbs 24:3 - Homes are built on the foundation of wisdom and understanding.

Proverbs 22:6 - Train a child in the way he should go, and then when he is old he will not turn from it.

Proverbs 14:29 - A patient man has great understanding.

2. I must accept my children.

Psalm 145:8 - The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.

Romans 15:7 - Accept one another.

Psalm 127:3 - Children are a gift from God, they are His reward.

3. I must discipline my children.

Hebrews 12:6 - The Lord disciplines those whom He loves.

Proverbs 13:24 - If you refuse to discipline your son, it proves you don’t love him.

Proverbs 19:18 - Discipline your children while they are young enough to learn. If you don’t you are helping them destroy themselves.


HOW TO DISCIPLINE

Discipline calmly.

Proverbs 29:11 - A fool gives full vent to his anger.

Don’t be a nagger.

Ephesians 6:4 - Don’t keep scolding and nagging your children, making them angry and resentful, use loving discipline.

Discipline quickly.

Discipline sparingly.

Col. 3:2 - Fathers don’t discourage your children so much that they become discouraged and quit trying.

Discipline by age level.

• The Age Of Regulation (Age 1-7)

Must learn to obey.

• The Age Of Imitation (Age 8-12)

Learn by watching you.

• The Age Of Inspiration (Age 13 & Up)

They will be like who they run with.

4. I must express love to my children.

Psalm 145:9 - The Lord is good and has compassion on all He has made.

Psalm 145:14 - The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.

Psalm 145:18 - The Lord is near to all who call on Him.

Psalm 101:2 - I will try to walk a blameless path, but how I need Your help especially in my own home where I long to act as I should.

February 6 2011 How Can I Overcome Discouragement

*no sermon audio*

How Can I Overcome Discouragement?

(Nehemiah 4:6-14 - So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat. Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall." Also our enemies said, "Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work." Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, "Wherever you turn, they will attack us." Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.")

Verse 10 - The strength of the laborers is giving out

I. Causes of discouragement

1. We get tired

(Verse 10 - Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is giving out")

(Verse 6 - So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.)

2. Frustration

(Verse 10 - "and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.")

What's the rubbish in your life that needs attention?

3. Failure

(Verse 10 - "we cannot rebuild the wall.")

The difference between winners and losers is winnders see it as a temporary set back.

4. Fear

(Verse 11 - Also our enemies said, "Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.")

(Verse 12 - Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, "Wherever you turn, they will attack us.")

II. The cures to discouragement

1. Find a better way

(Verse 13 - Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows.)

(Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 - Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.)

2. Remember your Lord

(Verse 14 - After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.")

Three ways to remember the Lord

• His goodness in the past
• His closeness in the present
• His Power in the future

3. Resisting it

(Verse 14 - After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.")

(James 4:2 - You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.)